A young man and his wife each make a drastic decision in order to surprise the other at Christmas. A dying girl attaches her fate to that of a leaf. A writer sobs at the sight of a menu. A detective tracks a thief to an unexpected hideout. An unforgettable collection from a master of the short story.

Common Core Alignment:

RL.9-10.2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.